Removable guard for automatic stapling machines



March 1, 1960 H. RUSKIN 2,926,549

REMOVABLE GUARD FOR AUTOMATIC STAPLING' MACHINES Filed June 14 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR. HE/VR) RUSK/N ATTORNEY H. RUSKIN 2,926,549

REMOVABLE GUARD FOR AUTOMATIC STAPLING MACHINES March 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1957 W Rk T WP v/ March 1, 1960 H. RUSKIN 2,9 ,5

REMOVABLE GUARD FOR AUTOMATIC STAPLING MACHINES Filed June 14. 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. HIE/V1? Y RUSK/IV H TTO/P/VE Y H. RU'SKIN March 1, 1960 REMOVABLE GUARD FOR AUTOMATIC STAPLING MACHINES Filed June 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HENR Y PUSK/N ATTORNEY United rates Patent REMOVABLE GUARD FOR AUTGMATIC STAPLING MACHINES Henry Ruskin, Bayside, N.Y., assignor to Swingline, Inc, Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 14, 1957, Serial No. 665,846 7 9 Claims. (Cl. 74-612) The subject matter of this invention is concerned with electric stapling machines and more particularly deals with improved means to reduce hazards incidental to operation thereof. In electric stapling machines, an initial manual impulse is required to close a normally open switch to complete an electric circuit to automatically establish a complete cycle of operation in the matter of fully depressing a swingable staple containing arm including plunger means carrying staple driving means and in the matter of subsequently tripping the closed switch to interrupt the electrical circuit to permit automatic retraction of a staple containing arm as well as the plunger means thereof. As is customary, electric stapling machines of the character referred to employ a relatively high throat to receive a large stack of sheet material to be stapled. If during insertion of such stack the operator inadvertently projects his fingers into the throat at which time the normally open switch is accide'ntly thrown to complete the operating electric circuit, appreciable harm may result causing severe damage to such projected fingers. The present invention has for its object to lessen and reduce such accidents in the provisionof protective means constituting a guard or bumper spaced about the swingable staple containing arm. Another object is realized in the provision of a U-shaped safety guard removably carried by the casing of the electric stapling machine. Another object is concerned with a safety guard comprising a U-shaped rail carrying spaced wings for removably and snugly embracing the sides of the casing and comprising exteriorly convex and internally concave substantially quarter round portions adapted to be removably seated on spaced cheeks of the casing. Other important objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed specification considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electric stapling machine, showing the slidable and swingable beam inter: locked with the closed swingable cap for the magazine, and illustrating the protective guard according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the safety guard or bumper on a smaller scale.

Fig. 7 is a rear view partially broken away to illustrate the interlocking action of the rear transversely alined pins orstuds of the wings of the safety guard with the support or casing.

.Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view takenon the line 3-8 of Fig. 2, however with spaced upstanding sides of the Slidable and swingablebeam broken away to show the alined slots surrounding fulcrum andguide pin traversingthe lower parts ofspaced jaws .of the beam.

,Fig, 9 is a transverse sectional view on theline 9-9 of Fig.2.

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Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the swingable staple containing arm, showing the switch control means.

In the drawings, the electric stapling machine generally designated SM comprises a hollow one piece metal casting defining casing or support C including intermediately arranged spaced cheeks 10 merged with rearwardly disposed housing or hood 11 and the forwardly arranged anvil sup-v porting base 12. This stapling machine SM is also charac-. terized by a swingable arm SA embodying staple contain.- ing magazine M and the normally raised plunger means including cap CP carrying driving blade DB for ejecting foremost staple S out of magazine M. Both magazine M and cap CP are appropriately pivoted on fulcrum pin 13 effectively held across gap 14 (Fig. 3) formed by spaced cheeks 10 of casing C. Cap CP may be swung relative to magazine M to open or close the latter. When closed, cap CP and magazine M are removably interlocked.

Offset leaf spring 15 (Fig. 2) carried by magazine M cooperates with forwardly disposed fulcrum pin 16 to hold swingable arm SA normally elevated, that is, spaced from anvil A carried by base 12.

Fulcrum pin 16 likewise is effectively retained across gap 14 and passes through spaced elongated slots 17 (Figs.

2 and 8) in spaced jaws 18 of tiltable beam or motion transmitter MT for pivotally and slidably guiding the latter. Jaws 18 are interrupted to provide alined notches 19 (Figs. 2 and 4) for removably engaging spaced pins 20 carriedby and inwardly overhanging spaced sides 21 of cap CP.

Slidable and swingable beam MT carries fulcrum 22 (Fig. 2) to which the lower part of a normally dropped armature AR of solenoid SD is desirably pivoted. Armature AR is slidably guided by laminatedi metal frame PR of solenoid SD. Frame FR carries coil CL having spaced leads L and LD. Frame FR;

is eccentrically and pivotally mounted within housing 11 and specifically on fixed fulcrum pin 23 having its: ends sustained by housing 11. Leaf spring 24 cooperates with frame FR to urge beam MT forwardly, thus per mitting spaced jaws 18 to be normally interlocked (Fig.

2) with inwardly overhanging spaced pins 20 of cap CPI One lead L of electrical coil CL is suitably connected.

to supply wire 25 of cable SP. The other lead LD of coil CL is connected to metal bracket B of the normally open conventional micro switch MC having spring controlled pivoted blade SB including contact 26 spaced bodies spring controlled trigger T rotatably mounted on fulcrum pin P fixed on yoke Y. When cap CP is manually but slightly depressed, yoke Y elevates trigger T to operate spring controlled pivoted actuator 32, causing switch blade SB to close, that is, contact 26 thereof engages contact 27 of metal bracket B establishing'a Instantly, armature AR is pulled up into frame FR and beam MT pivots on fill complete electric circuit.

crum pin 16. Thus jaws 18 are rocked, causing pins.

20 of cap CP to be downwardly displaced against ree." sistance of leaf spring 30 and arm SA is swung down-:

wardly relative to fulcrum pin 13 against resistance'pf olfset spring 15. Immediately after magazine M strikes anvil A, driving blade DB automatically goes througlg its downstroke to eject foremost staple S out of magazine M. About the time this takes place, fixed lug AB of the slidable and swingable beam MT rotates trigger T against'the resistance of spring 31 to trip actuator 32 for blade SB, thus breaking the electric circuit. Annature AR now drops by gravity and jaws 13 tilt upwardly to elevate pins 26 of cap CP,'hence raising the latter while leaf spring 15 restores magazine M to its normally elevated position. Accordingly a complete cycle of operation has been made. The electric stapling machine has been merely generally set out but is more specifically described in joint patent application of Char es H. Werner and Charles F. Hecpe, S.N. 654,350, filedFebruary 22, 1957.

Now this type of stapling machine depends upon an initial but slight manual or finger impulse applied to cap Cl. Also this type of stapling macnine includes a relatively large throat T, that is, the gap between anvil A and bottom wall of magazine M (Fig. 2) is relatively high to accommodate a large stack of sheets to be stapled. This throat is large enough to admit fingers of the operator. In such case if cap C? be accidently depressed a complete cycle of operation would automatically take place. If the operator had unwittingly left a part of his finger on the anvil, the hammer blows imparted by magazine M and by the driving blade D might result in nipping or needless damage. For purposes of safety and to lessen this risk or hazard and also make the operator fully conscious to keep his fingers out of throat T, a safety barrier in the form of a protective bumper or guard, bro il denoted G, is provided. 7

Protective guard G is a one piece member, preferably stamped out of sheet metal, comprising substantially parallel and resilient limbs 4ft integrally merged at their front ends with the common brace 41 to constitute a U-shaped rail surrounding and spaced from the front and side faces of the swingable arm SA and more particularly the front and side faces of magazine M as well as cap CP.

Guard or bumper G is characterized by spaced and disconnected wings 42 having externally convex, internally concave quarter round portions 43 conforming closely to the external convex contour of spaced checks 1% and adapted to be seated thereon and in part to closely straddle the vertical sides 45 thereof.

Quarter round portions 43 are integrally merged with shoulders 44 extending laterally of and merged with the spaced limbs 40. Wings 42 carry spaced inwardly overhanging pins 48 and 49. Corresponding pins 48 are removably received and transversely alined openings 59 (Fig. 8) in spaced sides 45 of checks 16*. Similarly corresponding pins 49 of spaced wings 42 are removably received in spaced openings 51 (Fig. 7) in spaced sides 52 'of easing C, sides 52 being a. continuation of sides 45 of checks 10.

To mount the safety guard G, wings 12 are first slightly diverged and brought into straddling relation with magazine M. Thereafter guard G is moved bodily rearwardly to position quarter round portions 43 to fully receive cheeks 10. Outward directed pressure is removed from wings 42 when pins 48 and 49 thereof reach openings 50 and 51, thus causing pins 48 and 49 to snap into openings 50 and 51. By this action, safety guard G is removably locked to casingor support C but also is seated on spaced cheeks to hug or embrace side Walls 45 of checks It) as well as embrace side walls 52, thevcontinuations of side walls 45. Conversely, to detach the safety guard, wings 42 are again diverged untilpins 48 and 49 are withdrawn from the body of the casing, hence permitting convenient removal of the guard therefrom.

Spaced limbs 40 and brace 41 as well as the quarter round' or ar'cuate portions 43, eachis externally convex and internally COIICBVC'Wliil the upper margins 55 'of brace 41 and limbs 40 characterizing arcuate and depending lip means 55 (Fig. 9).

Incidentally to expose magazine M for loading of staples therein, manipulator 69 which is slidably guided in support or casing C, is depressed by finger pressure causing solenoid SD to be eccentrically swung in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) against resistance of leaf spring 24, thus shifting fulcrum pin 22 rearwardly, thereby correspondingly bodily shifting beam MT rcarwardly to withdraw and unlock jaws 18 from spaced pins 2i) of cap CP, and consequently cap CP may be swung away from magazine M.

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thcreof inherent therein.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable guard spaced from said arm and disposed in part in advance of said throat and in part arranged below said arm and above said anvil, and spaced means carried by said guard and sustained by said support.

2. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped guard spaced from said arm and disposed in part in advance of said throat and in part arranged below said arm and above said anvil, and spaced means carried by said guard and sustained by said support.

Si in a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped guard spaced from and straddling said arm and a brace disposed in part in advance of said throat and in part arranged below said arm and above said anViL and spaced wings carried by said guard and sustained by said support.

4. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by saidsupport a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable guard in part spaced from said arm and disposed in part in advance of said throat and in part arranged below said arm and above said anvil, spaced wings carried by said guard and sustained by said support, and means carried by said wings and removably interlocking with said support.

5. In a staplingmachine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple sustaining arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped resilient guard comprising spaced limbs spaced from and straddling said arm, a brace interconnecting corresponding front portions of said limbs and arranged in advance of said throat and arm and in part arranged below said arm above said anvil, and

spaced wings integral with and offset outwardly relative to corresponding rear parts of said limbs for removably grasping said support.

6. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped guard comprising spaced limbs spaced from and straddling said arm, a brace intercon-' necting corresponding front portions of said limbs and ar-- ranged in advance of said throat and arm and in part arranged below said an'n above said anvil, spaced wings integral with and offset outwardly relative to corresponding rear parts of said limbs and having means seated on said support, and means carried by said wings for removably interlocking with said support.

7. In a stapling machine including a-support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried. by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material;

a removable U shaped guard comprising spaced limbs spaced from and straddling said arm, a brace interconnecting corresponding front portions of said limbs and arranged in advance of said throat and arm and in part arranged below said arm above said anvil, spaced Wings for closely straddling said support and integral with and ofiFset outwardly relative to corresponding rear parts of said limbs and having means seated on said support, and means carried by said wings for removably interlocking with said support. g

8. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple containing arm carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped guard comprising Spaced limbs spaced from and straddling said arm, a brace interconnecting corresponding front portions of said limbs and arranged in advance of said throat and arm and in part 7 9. In a stapling machine including a support and an anvil defining with a staple sustaining arrn carried by said support a throat adapted to receive sheet material; a removable U shaped guard comprising exteriorly convex internally concaved spaced limbs spaced from and straddling said arm, an exteriorly convex internally concaved brace interconnecting oorrespondingfront portions of said limbs and arranged in advance of said throat and arm and in part arranged below said arm above said anvil, spaced wings for clasping said support and integral with and offsetoutwardly relative to corresponding rear parts of said limbs and having spaced arcuate means removably seated on said support, and spaced means carried by said wings for removably holding said wings against displacement relative to said support.

References ited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2, 45,143 Trecartin Ian. 24, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 268,967 Italy NOV. 5, 1929 139,646 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1919 

